Tray for children s chairs



(No Model.)

B. L. BENT.

TRAY FOR OHILDRENS OHAIRS.

No. 317,707. Patented May 12, 1885 a m E .u u S 0 5G 5m T UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RODERIC L. BENT, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAY FOR CHILDRENS CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,707, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed January 9, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BODERIC L. BENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gardner, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trays for Childrens Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the same are fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This improvement relates to that class of childrens chairs which are provided with a temporary tray or shelf crossing from arm to arm in front of the seat, serving to prevent the child from falling out, and also to support toys, food, or other articles.

My present invention is embodied in a chair provided with a tray hinged to one of its arms, and having a stop and a catch to secure it to the other arm of the chair. The best form of hinge is, in effect, a universal joint, so that the tray, when swung around, may drop down and hang at one side of the chair.

The drawings illustrate these features of my invention, Figure 1 showing in perspective the under side of the tray with the parts in their locked position. Fig. 2 represents the tray suspended at the side of the seat, and Fig. 3 shows the peculiar arrangement of the spring-catch.

A is the seat, and B B the arms to which the tray 0 is applied. D is a socket secured to one arm of the chair, and E a ball working loosely in said socket, and having a stem made fast to one end of the tray. By this" means the tray is supported in either of its two positions and is kept from being inislaid when not in use.

Some other means of attaching the tray to the arm B may be provided, if preferred.

F G is the bolt or catch which secures the opposite end of the tray to the arm B by entering the eye or socket H connected with said arm. This catch is of stout wire, and

by a spiral spring, L, tending to press the bolt inwardly to the locked position. I prefer to hold the bolt and spring in place by a wooden strip, M, secured beneath the tray. Instead of a separate socket, the bolt G may engage with one of the spindles N.

The form of bolt and spring shown is particularly adapted for my purpose, since their longitudinal movement provides for a considerable variation in distance between the arms B B, occurring in different styles or sizes of chairs. The bolt, however, enters the eye H to an equal distance in all cases, the spiral spring L pressing the coil K against the arm B, .as in Fig. 1. The point of the bolt G is bent slightly downward, so that as it enters the eye H it will draw the tray down snugly upon the top of the arms with a spring pressure, and prevent rattling. The inner end of the arm F of the bolt is bent into a loop or otherwise to prevent the spring L from slipping off, and this bent portion works in a groove, thus holding the bolt G in position to enter the eye.

S isa stop secured beneath the tray, and so located as to strike the end of the arm B when the boltis opposite the eye. Thus no special watchfulncss is required in fastening the tray, since the hinge and stop will together bring the parts into proper position to fasten when the bolt is drawn out.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the seatA and arms B B, of the tray 0, hinged to one of the arms, the stop S, and the bolt F G, adapted to engage with the other of said arms, sub-' In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

' RODERIO L. BENT.

Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, ELIHU G. LooMIs. 

